The Dispatch has recently published multiple letters to the editor debating what constitutes facts and truth. The positions taken in these political letters suggest that society has begun to divide on the very foundation of reasoned argument: facts, truth, and evidence. When we cannot agree on a mutual starting point for debate, then how can we hope to resolve our differences?

I think most of us debate because we want to reach an outcome that helps the most number of people. We have different paths to get there, but our mutual goal is to improve society. We value understanding, empathy, and kindness in our families and for our neighbors. We know that the best outcomes for society are the same as those we want for our own children and grandchildren.

We debate because we want their future to be better than the world we have today. Remember that. Remember that we debate for the greater good, and that the facts and truth we bring to the debate affect whether we ultimately get there.